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Contact: Mike Gehrig (312) 988-2065 mgehrig@thegbi.org

Green Building Initiative™ recognizes the point at Morristown for sustainable design and construction as part of Earth Day celebration
-- Non-profit Credits Facility as New Jersey’s First Green Globes™ Rated Building --

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (April 22, 2008) As part of its Earth Day celebration, the Green Building Initiative (GBI) recognized The Point at Morristown, a 24,000 square foot, six-story mixed office and retail building in downtown Morristown, NJ, for its achievements in sustainable design and construction. The project's achievements were identified using the Green Globes™ environmental assessment and rating system for commercial buildings.

During a special dedication ceremony, Vicki Worden, GBI Vice President of Commercial Programs and Product Development, presented Steve Needle, the builder of The Point at Morristown, and his management team with a plaque recognizing the building's achievement and as the first Green Globes rated building in New Jersey.

The Point at Morristown was recognized for, among other things:

• Incorporation of an integrated design process,
• Environmental purchasing and commissioning plan,
• Minimization of air emissions and ozone-depleting substances, and
• Water conserving features.

Key environmental features of the building include ceiling heights designed to maximize energy efficiency, dual-flush toilets, sensor operated faucets, tinted double pane operable windows which allow for ample natural daylight in the building, carpeting made from recycled materials, an on-site recycling center, fluorescent lighting, rooftop solar panels and a high efficiency HVAC system.

"One of the goals of high performance building is to combine the innovation of environmental design with functionality," said Worden. "Projects like The Point at Morristown have achieved a balance between environmental considerations such as energy efficiency and a healthier and more inviting workplace for employees. They also reinforce the fact that green building is appropriate and attainable for all types of structures."

Green Globes was adapted from a system that is widely used in Canada, where it is one of only two green building rating systems recognized by the Canadian federal government. Under the trade name Go Green Plus, it is also the basis of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada's national energy and environmental program for existing buildings.

"We pursued sustainable construction as part of our commitment to environmental responsibility," said Steve Needle, "We chose to use the Green Globes system because of its ability to assist us in meeting our goals to reduce our impact on the environment and the surrounding community, while being user-friendly and affordable. The Point at Morristown will allow other businesses to have a positive impact on our environment every day."

To achieve a Green Globes rating, The Point at Morristown's project team used the Green Globes tool to assess and rate the building themselves. Later, a GBI authorized third-party building science expert was engaged to review the construction documents, conduct an on-site inspection and confirm the original rating. The building achieved the same Green Globes rating from both the building team and the third-party assessor.

This project was a logical extension of similar practices applied to the custom homes built by Needle under the corporate name of Needle Point Homes in the Westfield and Scotch Plains area.

The Point at Morristown is just one of many projects that have achieved a Green Globes rating. Others include: the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AK, Blakely Hall in Issaquah, WA, the Pfizer Clinical Research Unit in New Haven, CT, the NewPage Corporate Headquarters in Miamisburg, OH, the Chandler Airport Commerce Center in Chandler, AZ, the RenewAire, LLC corporate headquarters in Madison, WI. and the Materials Recovery Facility in Summit County, CO.

GBI Celebrates Earth Day Across the Nation
The ceremony is also part of a week long, nationwide celebration of Earth Day by the not-for-profit GBI, which is an education and marketing initiative dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green building practices.

In addition to activities in Morristown, the GBI also has the following events planned for the Earth Day week:

• A dedication ceremony to recognize the Bristol-Myers Squibb research facility in Wallingford, Conn. as the first building to assess its environmental performance using the new module of the Green Globes rating system—Green Globes for Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (Green Globes-CIEB);
• A launch ceremony, in conjunction with the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, to introduce a state-wide residential green building program called Green Build Kentucky, which provides a baseline for practical green building methods and training resources for local builders; and
• Presentation of a sustainability award to a team of university students and professors for their sustainable design proposal as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual People, Prosperity, Planet (P3) award ceremony in Washington, D.C.

"While there is, of course, a great deal of room for improvement, Earth Day is an opportunity to celebrate the steps people take every day to make their built environment more energy efficient and healthier, and to reduce their environmental impact overall," said Ward Hubbell, president of the GBI. "It's a day to be proud of our successes and to educate others about the many ways they too can contribute to a more sustainable world."

For more information about the Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system, or the GBI, visit www.thegbi.org.

ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction. For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.